TRANSFER TALK: Chairman praise for his ruthless and persuasive manager

Alan Swann

New Peterborough United manager Grant McCann has already shown a ruthless as well as a persuasive streak.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has praised McCann’s honesty at the start of the club’s pre-season training camp in Portugal. He’s also impressed with the first-season manager’s ability to tempt in demand players to come to the ABAX Stadium.

New signings Brad Inman, Gwion Edwards, Ryan Tafazolli, Andrew Hughes and Hayden White are all with the first-team squad in Portugal, but those not in McCann’s plans for next season have been left behind.

Midfielder Harry Beautyman is believed to be one of the unwanted players told to find themselves a new club.

MacAnthony, in an interview with the club’s own media department, said: “Players love talking to ex-footballers with a touch of class about them.

“And Grant has that. Our new players have come her because of Grant. We are very pleased with our recruitment so far.

Harry Beautyman.

“Myself and Grant worked hard to get Tafazolli here especially as he was about to go and talk to Blackburn. He’s a massive man and a great signing for us. He is a left-sided central defender who is comfortable on the ball.

“Hayden, Andrew Hughes, Gwion and Brad Inman are all top signings. They’ve given us the healthy competition for places that we want.

“Grant wants two strong players for every position and we are on the way to achieving that. We were awful defensively last season, but we are confident we have improved that part of the team.

“I tried to sign Gwion three years ago at a time when we were also trying to sign a centre-back from Crawley (Kyle McFadzean), but we couldn’t get it done then. We kept monitoring him and when we heard he was about to have a medical at another club we sprang into action.

“Barry Fry (director of football) contacred his agent and we got the deal done in about three hours as Gwion was so keen to play for us. We bid more for him three years ago.

“Brad was a bit tougher, but we‘re thrilled to have him. He scored 10 goals in a relegated team last season, but no-one’s seen his best yet. We believe we will bring the best out of him.

“We want eight strong midfielders and we now have them. I wouldn’t want to be picking our starting midfield now.

“That’s business done now apart from finding a new left back. Everyone knows who we want (Callum Elder), but Grant has also given us three other possible targets.

“We do need to get players out and Grant has been very honest with the players he doesn’t see fitting into his plans.

“They are not with us. They have been told to find another club.

“I have turned down bids for other players, We could sell one or two that would cover the cost of our signings, but they won’t be what I call marquee players.

“My mission is to get the fans back to the ABAX Stadium. It doesn’t sit well with me that Cambridge almost caught us on average gate size last season.

“That’s why I am again backing the manager in his bid to build an attractive, winning side.”